In one Biblical chapter, I Sam. 15, two contradictory
things are said concerning God: He repents that He made Saul king over Israel (vv. II
and 35) and He is no human being that He repents (v. 29).
This contradiction is in itself worth investigating, but the thought that the Almighty God could feel remorse or
have a change of mind is intriguing too. Can we state that God – with features such as
omniscience, omnipotence, and immutability – can repent? Because this is a dogmatic
question, we will not be able to answer it. But this article will provide elements for the
discussion of such questions in systematic theology.